In the Loop itself was based on Iannucci's respected British TV series, The Thick of It, so this is familiar territory for Iannucci, if not for the former Elaine Benes; Veep is apparently an adaptation of The Thick of It as well.

Interestingly, this isn't the first attempt to bring The Thick of It to U.S. television. ABC commissioned a pilot in 2007, and that pilot's producers brought some heavy-hitters of American satire on board to develop it, including Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz and mockumentary legend Christopher Guest. Guest himself brought his regular cast members John Michael Higgins and Michael McKean. But all this talent apparently wasn't enough to make much of a show; ABC didn't pick up the pilot, and Iannucci described it as "terrible." HBO is giving him much more direct control of Veep, so the results may be better; we'll find out when Veep airs next year.